HUGE data breach at Equifax
#121
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
Unfortunately, freezing your credit isn't going to help with that. However, I'd like to think that they'd run the guy's prints and realize that the prints the Feds have on file for me (due to signing up for Global Entry) don't match--even if that doesn't happen as often as we'd like.
#122
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
Unfortunately, freezing your credit isn't going to help with that. However, I'd like to think that they'd run the guy's prints and realize that the prints the Feds have on file for me (due to signing up for Global Entry) don't match--even if that doesn't happen as often as we'd like.
Last edited by Diplomatico; Sep 15, 2017 at 8:40 pm
#123
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
In my opinion you're good. I'm definitely way more cautious than the "I have a CreditKarma account and I'll just monitor that" crowd and I only froze the Big Three (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.)
What will be interesting to see is if banks start moving away from Equifax and embracing Innovis.
What will be interesting to see is if banks start moving away from Equifax and embracing Innovis.
We need fewer credit bureaus, not more. All it takes is to breach one and your identity and financial data are compromised.
When you have more entities accumulating information about you, it's just more opportunities for hacking.
Congress should be looking to crush Equifax but my guess is that they won't, especially if Equifax has lobbyists.
This morning, some crisis management guy was interviewed on CNBC and he was talking about ways Equifax management could survive.
The point is, not only should the management not survive, the company shouldn't either.
So the last thing we need is more banks enabling this industry.
They have to come up with a different way to evaluate the creditworthiness of people than using the SSN.
How the hell do other countries do it?
You don't hear about hacks of personal financial data in Europe. They may happen but I get the sense that cyber criminals are going for the richest, easiest targets, which is the US.
#124
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Unfortunately, freezing your credit isn't going to help with that. However, I'd like to think that they'd run the guy's prints and realize that the prints the Feds have on file for me (due to signing up for Global Entry) don't match--even if that doesn't happen as often as we'd like.
Especially not local law enforcement.
#125
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
How many of the 143 million people affected have Global Entry, do you think? How many days in jail are you willing to spend while your local police department figures out how to access Global Entry databases to match your fingerprints? How much in attorney fees are you willing to spend to get the police to even check it?
#126
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: IAH
Posts: 488
So I'm in the list, my wife is not. This is messy as I'm not a US Citizen and I have no fixed US address (we use my in laws as a mailing address when needed, but I have no proof I live there such as phone or utility bills). I will likely return to the US at some point and I don't want to turn up to find my credit has been trashed.
If I wanted to sign up for the gold standard of credit monitoring (rather than Equinox's crap one year product), what is the best product?
If I wanted to sign up for the gold standard of credit monitoring (rather than Equinox's crap one year product), what is the best product?
#128
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,193
It's better not to be the "low hanging fruit", no?
#129
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
#130
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Interesting how Lifelock prices its products.
So you're paying for insurance against loss? If they mess up, they will reimburse you up to whatever amount you signed up for?
Wonder how many times they've had to pay up, whether they drag their feet on payouts, etc.
So you're paying for insurance against loss? If they mess up, they will reimburse you up to whatever amount you signed up for?
Wonder how many times they've had to pay up, whether they drag their feet on payouts, etc.
#132
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
#133
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
I used to spend money on myFICO's monitoring, actually. It was pretty good for a while until it started getting nerfed (presumably to encourage people to purchase their more expensive plans).
Anyway, I think with the credit report freezes and Credit Karma recently adding Equifax, that might be good enough for me.
Anyway, I think with the credit report freezes and Credit Karma recently adding Equifax, that might be good enough for me.
#135
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 1,997
I happened to check my Chase Freedom card account today, and someone in the past few days did a cash advance with my card. Called Chase and they will reverse the charge and cash advance fee, and send a new card.
Then went onto the Equifax website, put in my info and got the message that I might have been impacted. Well, fairly obviously, I was.
"Oh what are the chances , won't impact me....." Whoops got that wrong.
Then went onto the Equifax website, put in my info and got the message that I might have been impacted. Well, fairly obviously, I was.
"Oh what are the chances , won't impact me....." Whoops got that wrong.